Furring hanger



Sept. 29, 1959 J. A. YOUNG 2,905,986

FURRING HANGER Filed April 7, 1958 INVENTOR. Jame: A.You|-|e,

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Arwmvtv United States Patent G 2,905,986 FURRING HANGER James A. Young, Hollywood, Fla. Application April 1, 1958, Serial No. 726,702

4 Claims. 01. 20-94 This invention relates to hanger devices and particularlyto hangers for supporting furring strips upon ceiling joists and whereby a plastered ceiling may be held in substantially a floating manner that permits the elongation of the joists under weather conditions without creating a crack in the plaster.

3' Ceilings have heretofore been constructed wherein the furring'strips are nailed to the underside of the joists and the'plasterboard or other base for the plaster nailed to the furring strips, forming a substantially rigid structure and, since the joists shift under the influence of moist conditions, it has caused the plaster to crack along substantially the center line of the ceiling, since the furring strips and the plaster are fixed with respect to-the joists and-creates a very objectionable condition.

The device of the present invention contemplates a U-shaped hanger formed from relatively hard wire and with the hanger providing a support for the furringstrips that is driven into the joists to securely hold the furring strips against the lower edge of the joists in a manner whereby the joists may shift without disturbing the relative positions of the furring strips.

The invention further contemplates a hanger for furring strips that is provided with a pair of upstanding leg portions and a connecting base portion and with one leg portion being provided at its terminal end with an angled driving point and with the opposite leg at its terminal end being provided with an eye for the driving reception of an attaching nail.

The invention further contemplates a furring hanger that is proportioned to permit the shifting of the roof joists without disturbing the relative positioning of the furring.

A further object of the invention resides in a generally U-shaped clip having upstanding leg portions and a connecting base portion and with one leg portion being angled outwardly whereby, when the opposite leg portion is driven into a joist, one leg portion is held away from the joist so that, when it is nailed into position, it will build up a torque in the base portion and the opposite leg for preventing the accidental displacement of the hanger.

Other objects and advantages of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a ceiling joist and a furring strip and showing the invention in use,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hanger,

Figure 3 is a plan view thereof,

Figure 4 is a view taken substantially on line 44 of Figure 1 showing the hanger partly engaged with the joist and in supporting relation to the furring strip and,

Figure 5 is a plan view showing the hanger in fully anchored engagement with respect to the joist and in supporting engagement with respect to the furring strip.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral .5 designates the hanger as a whole that is formed from a single section of relatively hard wire. The hanger is generally U-shaped and embodies a base member 6, upstanding and outwardly angled legs 7 and 8. The leg 7 terminates in a partially formed eye or loop 9. The leg 8 terminates in a right angle tang 10, having .a downwardly tapered piercing end 11. As clearly shown in Figure 3 the tang 10 is also angled inwardly to correspond to the angle of driving imparted thereto by a conventional driving tool, such as a hammer. Also, the leg 7, as shown in Figures 3 and 4is acutely angled with respect to the leg 8.

The numeral 12 designates a conventional joist, while the numeral 13 indicates the furring strip to be supported with respect to the joist. The furring strip here illustrated is approximately 2 inches by 2 inches, while furring' a purpose to be presently described. The eye 9, as,

shown in Figure 4 is likewise slightly angled rearwardly, fora purpose to be described. V

In the use of the device, the furring strip 13 is held against the lower edge of the joist l2, and a hanger 5" then engaged around the furring strip, with 'the'bas'e 6 engaging the lower side of the strip. With the hanger held in a position to extend substantially equal" distances beyond the edgegofthe strips, the operator then proceeds to drive-the tang 10' into the'joists'. The purpose of the angle to the tang 10 is to furnish a proper clearance for the driving action. As the tang is driven into the joist, the sharpened or beveled end 11 causes the tang to assume an acute angle into the wood, such as that illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, accurately anchoring the tang against outward movement. With the tang driven into position, the leg 7 will be disposed at an angle away from the side of the joist, shown more clearly in Figure 4. Now, the leg 7 is then forced toward the side of the joist and a conventional roofing nail 14 driven through the eye until the eye binds against the joist. With the leg 7 forced into engagement with the joist, it has imparted a twisting torque to the base 6 and this torque serves to more firmly hold the tang against displacement. The angle of the eye 9 with respect to the leg 7 further enhances the torsion directed toward the embodiment of the positioning drive tang 10. The hanger is now firmly engaged with the joist and the strip 13 supported in relatively snug engagement with the lower edge of the joist. Now, should there be any movement of the joist, such as frequently occurs under adverse weather conditions, such as moisture, the joist may become slightly elongated. Since the base 6 is greater in length than the width of the furring strip, the hanger and the joist can shift with respect to the furring strip, without disturbing the plaster. The strips 13 constitute nailing surfaces for the well recognized rock-lath to which the plaster is applied and, due to the ability of the joist to shift, the ceiling is effectively supported in a floating position and the joist may shift without disturbing the rigid plaster coat thus,

. eliminating ceiling cracks commonly experienced in con- Patented Sept. 29, 1959.,

3 by a separate hanger that is anchored to the joist. The several bends and angles employed constantly tend to induce torsion directed toward embedment of the positioning drive tang 10. The drive tang 10 as before stated is angled in a direction to facilitate its driving into the wood and in its driven position, is not only angled with respect to the side of the joist, but is angled downwardly by the point 11.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel form of hanger device has been employed to support furring strips in a floating manner with respect to ceiling joists. The hangers are economical to manufacture, are quickly and easily engaged in interlocking engagement with the joists and are highly effective in the construction art to prevent ceiling cracks.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hanger device for furring strips that are employed as the supporting means for plaster and connected to ceiling joists, comprising a section of wire bent to substantially a U-shape having a base flight and upstanding legs, one leg terminating in a right angled sharpened prong to have a driven embedment into the side of a joist, the other leg terminating in an open eye for the reception of a nail to be driven into the side of the joist, the base having a length greater than the width of the furring strip to be supported, the legs being angled with respect to each other whereby to create a torque throughout the hanger to oppose dislodgment of the prong, the hanger forming a cradle for the furring strip and the plaster supported thereby in a floating manner that permits of a relative creeping movement of the joists.

2. A hanger device for supporting furring strips in relatively snug engagement with the lower edges of ceiling joists and whereby the joists may partake of relative shifting movement without disturbing the furring strips and plaster supported by the strips, the hanger comprising a section of wire bent to a U-shape having a straight base section and upstanding legs, the legs being outwardly angled and the base having a length greater than the width of the supported furring strip whereby the legs are disposed away from the edges of the strip, one leg terminating in an acutely angled sharpened prong for driving embedment into the side of a joist, the other leg terminating in an open eye for the passage of a nail to be driven into the side of the joist after the prong has been embedded, the legsbeing additionally angled whereby to build up a torque throughout the hanger against the dislodgment of the prong when the eye carrying leg is secured to the joist.

3. The structure according to claim 2, wherein the eye carrying leg is acutely angled forwardly from the plane of the base and the opposite leg and whereby to build up a torque in the base and the opposite leg.

4. The structure according to claim 2, wherein the prong is additionally angled inwardly to partake of an angled embedment into the joist, the terminal end of the prong being forwardly and downwardly beveled and whereby the prong partakes of a downward arcuate embedment into the joist.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 271,730 Morrison Feb. 6, 1883 2,641,428 Kirk June 9, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 500,127 France Mar. 3, 1920 

